Rabat:Nepal has made notable progress in reducing child marriage over the last ten years, yet the country is not on pace to fulfill its commitment to eliminate this harmful practice by 2030. This is highlighted in a new UNICEF advocacy brief titled “Ending Child Marriage in Nepal A Decade of Data and a Call to Action.”
According to National News Agency Nepal, the release of this advocacy brief aligns with the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11. The theme for this year, “End child marriage and invest in girls’ rights,” underscores the urgency in accelerating efforts to stop child marriage and empower girls to learn and thrive.
The brief draws on data from the latest Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (NMICS) 2024-25, analyzing trends from the 2014 and 2019 surveys. It reports a decline in the percentage of women aged 20-24 who were married before the age of 18, falling from 37 percent in 2014 to 28 percent in 2024-25. Marriages before age 15 have also decreased from 10 percent to 5 percent during the same period.
Despite real and measurable progress, significant disparities remain. Poverty continues to be a major factor, with girls from the poorest households 4.4 times more likely to marry before age 18 than their wealthier peers. While wealthier groups have seen faster progress, rates of child marriages among the poorest have stagnated.
The brief also addresses the influence of climate-related disasters, such as recent floods, in exacerbating the risk of child marriage by disrupting education and straining household resources. Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative to Nepal, emphasized that while progress has been made, it is not fast enough nor equitable, with marginalized girls still at high risk.
Education is highlighted as a key factor in preventing child marriage. Girls who complete secondary education face a lower risk of marrying young, though those most at risk often leave school early due to poverty.
UNICEF Nepal Youth Advocate Swarnima Kadel stressed the importance of allowing girls to complete their education and choose their own futures. She called on families, communities, and leaders to support girls in staying in school.
The brief urges targeted action to prioritize support for impoverished girls, maintain their education, strengthen child protection, and challenge harmful social norms. With only four years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal Target 5.3, UNICEF calls for collective action to ensure every girl can reach her full potential free from child marriage.